But wait...I'm afraid of heights!

While in Mexico, I decided to sign up for a zip-line, rappelling down waterfalls excursion. Yes, I am afraid of heights, but I wanted to have an adventure that I would probably never get another chance to do in my lifetime, so I signed my waiver to not hold them liable in case I fell off a cliff, or passed out because I was in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, or maybe freaked out for no apparent reason. All of these are reasonable reactions from me if you know me at all. So first, we took a bus to the coast, then a boat to an almost deserted island. At this point I am thinking it could take them 3 days to find us, or maybe 3 days was being optimistic! Next, we took these army looking trucks up a couple of very steep, dirty, dusty mountains. Taking us even further into the jungle, can you sense the tension here? Next stop. We got on these mules, because now we are going into terrain that only a mule or a person on foot can get through, yes I'll take a mule please.

Thank you mule. Please don't die on the way up this jungle mountain.

Then the zip lining began. I was nervous, but did just fine until the waterfall rappel.

Of course, Devin was a complete pro and loved every minute and then some.

So this waterfall is VERY high up there. This picture doesn't do it justice. I was terrified, but Edgar (the lead rappeler) was having none of it. I'm actually very proud of myself for taking something on that I was scared to do but have always wanted to try. Way to go me!!!

That's my 'way to go me' smile.

They told us to kiss, this was not a spontaneous romantic moment from Devin, but I can still keep the hope alive.

Yes, that is me, and I am having fun, and I am in the MIDDLE OF A WATERFALL IN THE MEXICAN JUNGLE! Never thought it would happen.

Devin doing everything perfectly...

I even got a head start, and he still beat me.

This is something I will never forget and I am so glad that I did it. By the way, this picture doesn't look like we are very high up, but we are very high. There is a river down there that you can't see and many more layers of trees and I am sure quite a few snakes.

We got to do 10 zip lines and 2 waterfalls. It was fantastic, a great way to really feel alive!

Tomorrow...

It is hard to believe that I will be right there tomorrow!! I'll be honest, I am a little, or a lot, afraid of going to Mexico right now. Just now I am hearing on the news another 59 bodies found at some abandoned warehouse, yesterday 41 people killed and it goes on and on... I have made sure that our life insurance policies are in tact and all of the legal 'stuff' is taken care of, so now all I have to do is say a little prayer and only pack clothes that will help me to fit in. What do people in Puerto Vallarta wear? Something tells me my pale white pasty skin will be a dead give-away. Get it, 'dead'. See, even in my fear I can still be funny. I'm sure that all of my worries are for nothing, right? This just might be one of the funnest vacations I have ever been on. But just in case I come home with some incurable parasite, or I don't come home at all, make sure my kids know how much I love them and I really didn't want to go but Daddy's work made me do it.

Spring, where are you?

I was practicing my editing skills after buying this great photoshop editing tutorial from one of my favorite photographers that I stalk, she lives is Huntsville, Alabama. Anyway, I came across this photo that I wanted to crisp up and saw the leaves on the trees, the blue sky, the short sleeves she is wearing without looking one bit cold and then I turned my head and looked outside!! Right now I am watching sleet and snow pound on my windows, I can't see the mountains because we are in the middle of ANOTHER WINTER-LIKE STORM!!! Maybe I don't hate St. George as much as I thought I did? I could always take up golf. If this crazy winter doesn't stop soon my next blog entry might be from San Diego, or Fiji, or a remote warm beach somewhere in Hawaii.

Classic Skating...the perfect winter activity

Who knew that Classic Skating would STILL be around after all these years? It was old, decrepid and the place where druggies hung out when I was a kid!!! It is still old and I'm pretty sure the carpet hasn't been replaced since 1985, but the kids love it. On a cold, rainy day when I think I'm going to loose my mind because the house if full of children and my pantry has been picked clean it is my little heaven on earth.


Here is Katie and her BFF Cortnie and I'm willing to bet $10.00 that those are the same roller skates my friends and I rented at their same age.

I love Katie and her braces. She hates getting her picture taken with them, so I was thrilled when I saw her give me this big cheeser grin!

Spencer wouldn't pose for a pic, big surprise. So I caught him as he was speeding around the track. This cracks me up at how small his scooter is next to his huge body. But hey, he is a 9 year old trapped in an almost 14 year old body.

I can always count on Hunter to pose for at least 3-4 pics. This one is my favorite. My sister wants me to wax his uni-brow but I think it is adorable. I love his big front teeth and then the little gaps here and there. He just lost another tooth, so you can add one more gap to that cute mouth of his.

February Updates Posted in March

Spencer got his Black Belt on Feb. 5th!!! Horray for him. He has worked for 4 long years to get this belt so we are all very excited. Now he has decided that he LOVES Tae Kwon Do and wants to keep going and get his 2nd degree Black Belt, who knew?

Spencer with Master Kim. This man is incredible. He is an 8th degree Black Belt and someone you would not want to mess with. Everyone treats him with such respect. Great role model for my boys, and me for that matter.

Merry Christmas!!

There's no snow in the valley but if I don't get a few pics taken today, I will not have anything for the amazing Christmas card I am working on tonight, yes it is 1a.m. and I am WIDE AWAKE and trying not to get angry. Can't believe how big my sweet babies are getting!!!

So glad I got this great brother picture. Katie was freezing cold, had had enough of the family togetherness and was taking a break in the warm car.

So I haven't posted for many, many months, but decided to see if I could keep a few of you up to date with what my cute family has been up to. We just went out today and Cari (thank you sis) took a few pics of my family with me in the photo no less. It was freezing cold, but I actually got some great shots.

Beautiful Hailey

This is the first photo that I submitted to my online photography teacher. I thought that as the weeks go by I would post my pictures here as well, so that we can all see my progress (notice how optimistic I am?).

I love this picture of Hailey and I have been experimenting with motion and the idea of creating motion by using angles. We will see what my teacher says about this.

Also, we cannot use any editing whatsoever. It is hard not to crop or change the lighting, but I am so glad I can take this class at night on my own time and really learn how to use my camera.

Katie & Her BFF

I am starting a new photography class tomorrow and in celebration of my continuing education I decided to take Katie and Cortnie out on the front porch and snap a few pictures. It is my small attempt to sharpen what few skills I have between my camera and photoshop.

Besides that, they are just so dang cute, I just couldn't resist posting them and their amazing eyes and smiles!!!

The Party is Over Here!!!

The cousins had a great time getting together for a fun party with grandma. Unfortunately, the photographer (me) didn't get any pictures OF grandma with ALL of her grandkids. Trust me when I say, it won't happen again.

My Three Sweethearts

Who's the Center of Attention?

Cream Puff

I had to post this picture of Austen, it is just too cute. Austen is looking up at his Daddy (Austen is the most expressive baby I have ever met). Melissa has been at Lake Powell, so she is especially tan, but the color contrast cracks me up. Austen has the most creamy white beautiful skin color. Aaron and I were talking about it on the 4th and Aaron said "he looks like a cream puff". I hope this nickname sticks because it is funny on mulitple levels.

Happy 4th of July!

Everyone came to the fireworks this year. We had Mom and Dad, all five kids, and all ten grandkids. It was a lot of fun.

I can't quit looking at this picture of Austen. Cari put Brian's hat on him and this is the look I got.

It was another great 4th of July. The kids had so much fun playing together. I love the times when we are all together as a family.

Camping with the Family!

Wednesday afternoon Devin came home with a new tent and two air matresses and said "Let's get out of here for a few days!" So we took the family camping. For three days we played on the four wheelers and had a great fire. We camped just outside of Kamas. It was a great spot with a lot of ATV trails right off of our campsite. The only down side of the trip was the cows. Yes, lots of cows. There were mommy cows and baby cows and even a few bulls. Katie was so freaked out by them that she wouldn't even get out of the truck. After a few hours, we were able to convince her that she would not be attacked and then she joined the rest of us.

Katie and Hunter loved driving the ATV's but I was never able to get Spencer to try driving one, what a shocker!!! Hunter loved playing in the fire. I think he went through 4 or 5 boxes of matches. It brought back memories of camping when I was a kid. We all got our own box of matches and Dad helped us build our own little fire pits. I'm pretty sure the Forest Service frowns on this, but I think it is a right of passage.

Our 1st Hospital Visit!

Hunter's latest adventure was a trip to Primary Children's Emergency Room. He had been sick for a few days and got dehydrated. Dr. Shakula told us to get him to the hospital. So he got his first IV! He was so brave. When he started feeling better he made sure I took pictures so he could document his braveness.